Metadata endpoint for a generic service

Abstract

A system and method for creating a metadata endpoint for a generic data service provided by a first Service Oriented Environment (SOE) is disclosed. The first SOE is an SOE in which a process that hosts the runtime environment of the data service normally exposes a data endpoint for the data service but does not normally expose a metadata endpoint for the data service. In accordance with one embodiment, the metadata endpoint is created as part of a separate process than the process that exposes the data endpoint. The system and method advantageously enables the data service of the first SOE to be utilized by data services in a second SOE in which both a data endpoint and a metadata endpoint are normally exposed for a data service.

1. A computer-implemented method for creating a metadata endpoint for a generic data service, said computer-implemented method comprising:
 creating an endpoint for metadata that describes how to communicate with a corresponding data endpoint of said data service in a first Service Oriented Environment (SOE), wherein said data endpoint is created by a process that hosts a runtime of said data service and wherein said endpoint for metadata is created by a different process than said process that hosts said runtime of said data service; and 
 publishing a location for accessing said endpoint for metadata for use by a second SOE; wherein said creating said endpoint for said metadata comprises: 
 creating a cloned data endpoint corresponding to said data endpoint by said different process; 
 coupling said endpoint for metadata with said cloned data endpoint; and 
 disabling said cloned data endpoint wherein said cloned data endpoint generates a fault response in response to a received message. 
 
   
   
     2. The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 changing a configuration setting of said data endpoint; 
 automatically changing a corresponding configuration setting of said cloned data endpoint; and 
 automatically updating metadata within said endpoint for metadata corresponding to said configuration setting of said cloned data endpoint. 
 
   
   
     3. The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving a request for metadata; 
 generating a response in response to said request for metadata which conveys metadata from said endpoint for metadata; and 
 conveying the location of said data endpoint in said response. 
 
   
   
     4. The method as recited in  claim 1  further comprising:
 disabling the data service of said data endpoint. 
 
   
   
     5. A computer-readable storage unit that stores instructions that, when executed, cause a computer system to perform a method for creating a metadata endpoint for a generic data service, said computer-implemented method comprising:
 creating an endpoint for metadata that describes how to communicate with a corresponding data endpoint of said data service in a first Service Oriented Environment (SOE), wherein said data endpoint is created by a process that hosts a runtime of said data service and wherein said endpoint for metadata is created by a different process than said process that hosts said runtime of said data service; and 
 publishing a location for accessing said endpoint for metadata for use by a second SOE; 
 wherein said creating said endpoint for said metadata comprises: 
 creating a cloned data endpoint corresponding to said data endpoint by said different process; 
 coupling said endpoint for metadata with said cloned data endpoint; and 
 disabling said second data endpoint wherein said second data endpoint generates a fault response in response to a received message. 
 
   
   
     6. The computer-readable storage unit as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said computer-implemented method further comprises:
 changing a configuration setting of said data endpoint; 
 automatically changing a corresponding configuration setting of said cloned data endpoint; and 
 automatically updating metadata within said endpoint for metadata corresponding to said configuration setting of said cloned data endpoint. 
 
   
   
     7. The computer-readable storage unit as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said computer-implemented method further comprises:
 receiving a request for metadata; 
 generating a response in response to said request for metadata which conveys metadata from said metadata endpoint; and 
 conveying the location of said data endpoint in said response. 
 
   
   
     8. The computer-readable storage unit as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said computer-implemented method further comprises:
 disabling the data service of said data endpoint. 
 
   
   
     9. A computer implemented method for exchanging metadata, said method comprising:
 receiving a request for metadata of a data endpoint of a data service in a first Service Oriented Environment (SOE) operating on a first process that hosts a runtime of said data service; 
 retrieving metadata that describes how to communicate with said data endpoint from a metadata endpoint operating on a second process; and 
 creating a reply which conveys the metadata and the location of said data endpoint in said reply; 
 wherein said metadata endpoint is created by creating a cloned data endpoint corresponding to said data endpoint by said second process, coupling said endpoint for metadata with said cloned data endpoint, and disabling said cloned data endpoint wherein said cloned data endpoint generates a fault response in response to a received message. 
 
   
   
     10. The method as recited in  claim 9  further comprising:
 publishing the location of said metadata endpoint for use by a second (SOE). 
 
   
   
     11. The method as recited in  claim 9  further comprising:
 changing a configuration setting of said data endpoint; 
 automatically changing a corresponding configuration setting of said cloned data endpoint; and 
 automatically updating metadata within said endpoint for metadata corresponding to said configuration setting of said data endpoint. 
 
   
   
     12. The method as recited in  claim 9  further wherein said receiving further comprises:
 receiving said request for metadata from a Service Oriented Environment (SOE) wherein a combining constraint is placed upon metadata and corresponding data. 
 
   
   
     13. The method as recited in  claim 12  wherein creating said reply further comprises:
 generating a response from a second SOE wherein a combining constraint is not placed upon metadata and corresponding data. 
 
   
   
     14. The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein generating a response in response to said request for metadata which conveys metadata from said endpoint for metadata comprises:
 obtaining by said different process contract data that describes at least one operation performed by said data service; and 
 including said contract data in said response. 
 
   
   
     15. The computer-readable storage unit as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said generating a response in response to said request for metadata which conveys metadata from said metadata endpoint comprises:
 obtaining by said different process contract data that describes at least one operation performed by said data service; and 
 including said contract data in said response.